Ford powerplant is most powerful V8 in the world

If you’re looking for an enormous amount of power, you don’t have to
look at exotic supercars that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The all-new supercharged 5.8-liter powerplant in the 2013 Ford Shelby
GT500 has been officially SAE-certified as the most powerful series
production V8 in the world. It has peak output of 662 horsepower and
631 lb.-ft. of torque.
That’s more power and torque than low volume sports cars that cost tens
or hundreds of thousands of dollars more than the GT500, which is the
most fuel-efficient vehicle in its segment. In fact, the 2013 GT500 is
the most fuel-efficient car with over 550 horsepower in any segment
available in America.
Unlike high-strung engines found in much more expensive exotic
supercars, the GT500 engine generates its massive thrust throughout its
operating range. It achieves 395 lb.-ft. of torque just off idle at
1,000 rpm. More than 90 percent of the peak torque is available from
2,200 to 5,800 rpm. No matter when you put down the pedal, the GT500
will get up and run.
The combination of the new TVS 2.3-liter supercharger twin-overhead
camshafts and four valves per cylinder ensures that this vehicle can
breathe all the way to 7,000 rpm. The peak power production comes at
6,500 rpm and holds fairly steady right to the rev limit.
A key piece of the driveline, the six-speed manual transmission, offers
upgraded gears, bearings and housing so it can properly manage the
torque. The final drive ratio is now 3.31:1 for optimized overall
vehicle gearing to complement the massive torque. Every gear, besides
fourth, was optimized for competing performance metrics. The clutch has
increased torque and rpm capacity and uses a dual-disc design.
“It might just seem like we’re putting a bigger engine into the car. But
it’s been a balanced approach through and through,” said Jamal Hameedi,
SVT chief engineer. “We’ve completely redone the car to be even more
sophisticated in terms of handling and control than the prior model.”
Nearly every gear on the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 was revised to manage
the torque and use more of the power in a way that makes it more
driver-friendly. Engineers considered more than 35 gearing
combinations. They finally decided on one that balanced the torque
that’s transmitted all the way through the wheels and grip to the
ground.
“Our goal is to create outstanding all-around performance cars, not just
stoplight-to-stoplight sprinters,” added Hameedi. “We’ve also backed up
this amazing powerplant with more refined chassis tuning. It helps
keep the rubber on the pavement without punishing the driver’s spine.
Six-pot Brembo brakes dissipate speed with ease stop after stop.”
The broad, flat torque curve of the GT500 engine makes it tractable and
easy to drive. With more than enough grunt to push the coupe to 200
miles an hour and beyond on the track, the chassis has been tuned to
absorb the road imperfections that can cause instability at high speeds.
The revised front fascia and splitter help manage the flow of air
around and under the GT500. It offers 33 percent more effective aero
loading at 160 miles per hour as compared to the 2011 model and feels
more firmly planted.
“The engineers at Ford SVT focused on the fundamentals first with solid
mechanical grip and strong brakes,” added Hameedi. “On top of that
platform, they added advanced driver-adjustable electronic assist
features including launch control, Bilstein adjustable damping,
AdvanceTrac stability control, and electric power-assisted steering.”
Even with the most powerful production V8 in the world, the 2013 Shelby
GT500 improves on the fuel efficiency of the 2012 model. It achieves an
EPA-estimated 15 miles per gallon in the city, 24 miles per gallon on
the highway, and 18 miles per gallon combined.

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